Wigan Album

do you know what year this was or any of the name's, my grt uncle John Prescott was a fire fighter in the pit at Ince

Hi Sandra. I am afraid I have no idea of the names of the gents in the photograph, and my guess at the date could also be way off the mark. It was just a photograph that I found interesting and decided to share.

They are a fine looking set of blokes I have to say.

I have a similar photograph to the one above showing another rescue team for Pearson and Knowles Ince Moss No5.The white haired gentleman is reputedly Instructor Sergeant Major WH Hill. My grandfather appears in my photograph which would have been before 1922 since he himself was killed in an 'accident'in that year. Following the recovery of his body after the roof fall he was delivered home to his grieving wife on a hand cart covered in a tarpaulin sheet still covered in coal dust and bloodied from his injuries. Sorry to be so gruesome but I think this demonstrated the cheapness of life and contempt in which workers were held by the mine owners. Incidentally he was killed on Friday 3rd and the inquest was concluded on Monday 6th returning a misadventure verdict.Read into that what you will.